Lumber-pile vehicle



H. F. WEATHERBY LUMBER PILE VEHICLE Filed Dec, 2, 19;

Nov., i3 H923.

S14/nannte@ Wafwwezwg 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Nov. 13 1923. 3,47394 H. F. WEATHERBY LUMBER PILE VEHICLE Filed DeO. 2. 1921 5 SheetS-Shet 2 Nov.. n3, 19235; www@ H. F. WEATHERBY LUMBER PILE VEHICLE Filed DSG. 2. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ...mi l||l||| fr GMO etented Nov. i3, i923.

' entre stem earner feesten HORACE F. WETHQERBY,DF SEATTLE, WASHENGTON.

s nirwana-rien vnnicnn.

Application filed Decgmber 2, 1921'. Serial No. 519,5(16.

-type particularlyfintended for'pickingup and conveying a loose pile of lumber, but

which, of course, may be employed for other purposes,suchfas conveying timbers. Such vehicles are generally of the type which straddle the load and pick it up on alpair of holsters beneath the pile, by means` of bolster-engaging feet, and while l. do Nnot desire to`be limited in the .details of my construction other than as defined by thev appendedclaims, yet I' shall describe it"in connection with a carrier of the general type described. f

An object of myinvention is to provide improved means forngaging the pile of lumber or the bolster upon which itis slipported preparatory to liftin the pile.

A further object is to pro ide such pile or bolster engaging means which will not inter- 4tere-with the positioning ofthe vehicle relative to4 the pile but which will be retra -ted out Yof possible engagement with the pile during the positioning of the vehicle.

A further `object is 5to provide a load-f carryin frame in connection with such a vehicle wich, when the pile is lifted. will be rigid, but which rior tolifting the pile will be yieldable to Vaccommodate irregu-I larities in the ground, inthe pile, or in the positioning'of thevehicle relative to the pile. A further object is to provide means which will automatically center and lock the loadcarrying frame Aas' it '-moves into load 7carrying position and while it retains such position.

Af .iirther object is `to provide va Vnovel means for suspending. and operating such Further objects and 'objectsurelating to str uctiu'al'dptails', maybejasceitainedby a the claims terminating the same.

study of the accompanying drawings and the-following specification and claims.

My invention comprises those novel parts V and combinations thereof which are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification, andparticularly defined by "which will fbey described later. /inain or mobile frame 9 and the load-carrybut swingable frame.

in theaccompanying drawings have shown my invention/in a form which is now preferred by me.

Figure l isnJ side elevation of the carrier, parts thereof Abeing broken away and shown -in section.

Figure 2 isla transverse section through the vehicle'in position over a load.

, lli re 3 is a similar transverse section of the vehicle, the load beingv shown raised into position. l

Figure 4 is agdetail of the drive for the load lifting means.

ll'gure 5 is a detail in planen aging foot. l

4igure 6 is a perspective detail of a modified `form of load-en, aging foot. ln general terms my invention comprises ai main frame generally represented by the the 10aanumeral 9 mounted on wheels 90 and supporting a swinging load-carrying frame' ing frame supported thereon are preferably Both the made of inverted U-shape, to include-a pile- Y.

of lumber or other load between the dependingsupports and beneath the upper portions which connect the same. -The main frame has secured thereon a motor 91 whichl kfurnishes the motive power of the vehicle and suitable steering means controlled by *the steering wheel 92. rlhe load-carrying frame is provided with means to engage a loadto lift it, which means are preferably retractible so that they will not interfere with the positioning of a vehicle above a load, with a suitable source of power, as the mot/or 59 upon the main frame 9, which operates `load-lifting mechanism,'and may also be provided with means for locking this swinging frame when the load lifting oper ation has commenced. am .f A Suitably supported upon the frame 9 are one\or more units of a load-carrying frame, each unit being in the form of an inverted letter U and comprising, preferably, a yoke 1 pivoted between its end and legs 2 which are guided in the ends of the yoke l for substantially Vvertical movement therein, the

legs and the yoke l forming together a rigid As shown hereinv parallel guides l2 are! provided in the outer ends of the yoke l. in which the upper ends of the legs 2 move,- Y

The legs^2 do not in any material sense Mld support the load but merelyact as guides for load-engaging feet 3 which `are carried by their lower ends. It is obvio-us, of course, that the legs'2mightf be fixed in the yokes 1 and the feet 3 be formed to slide upon the legs'2, but in order to overcome certain practical disadvantages of such an arrangement I prefer that described above.

VThe feet 3 should not project into the path f the pile I or its bolster B prior to the time the vehicle is correctly positioned above the pile and is prepared to lift it. I have shown them, therefore, as retractible normally within the inwardly-facing limits of4 terminal members 21 which are secured upon the lower end of the legs 2. Springs 31, interposed between the member 21 and the lower end 32 of the foot, serve to keep it retracted normally. Guides or pins 23 carried by the member 21 are received in and coopcrate with guide slots 33 in the foot 3 to permit lateral or horizontal movement of the foot relative to the member 21. 'lhe foot 3 may have an upwardly extending flange 34 which is adapted to engage the end of the bolster B and this flange, contacting with the face 24 of the member 2l, li1nits` the iuward or retractile movement of the foot. The projecting movement thereol' may be limited by the end of thel bolster B or by Contact of its rear flange 32 with the rear face 22 of the member 21. 25 of the member 21 may be curved if desired to form Ia guard which will pass smoothlyover the ends of the bolster B` or along the pile P, the foot 3 being retracted during this positioning operation and lying, moreover, beneath the level of the bolster B.

The yoke ,or yokes 1 may be suitably supported upon the main frame 9 or upon a shaft 5 which is journaled'at 93 in the main frame. Preferably, in addition to forming the support for the yokes 1 and the apparatus suspended therefrom, the shaft 5 is also rotative to actuate the load-engaging and lifting means. To this end a sheave 51 is secured upon the shaft adjacent each yoke and sheaves `11 are supported upon the yoke adjacent each end. Cables 53, one secured to the under side of the sheave l1 and one to its upper side, pass thence each over its respective sheave 11 and downward to connect with-a chain 54. This chain passes over a sheave 26 mounted in the member 21 and is secured to the rear flange 32 of the foot Preferably the chain lies behind the guard surface 25 so that it will not interfere with the pile of lumber. Length and tension adjusting means. such as the turnbuckle 55,

may be employed in each of the lines composed of the cable 53 and chain 54 if this is desired.

Rotation of the shaft 5 is accomplished from the motor 59 through a suitable train of gearing, as shown inrFigure 4, wherein a" pinion 56 drives a gear 57, the latter in turn The inner face l53, the parts being then in t-he'position shown in Figure 2 with the legs 2` at their lowermost position and the feet 3 retracted. The-first action following the rotation of the shaft 5 is to cause the projection of the feet 3 in opposition to the springs 31. These having vbeen previously positioned adjacent the ends of the bolster B, upon their projection they engage beneath the bolster which is usually raised slightly upon blocks S. As rot-ation of the shaft 5 continues the legs 2 are'raised in the guides 12, carrying with them the terminal member 21 and the feet 3. This action raises the load from the ground to any desired height within the limits of the particular vehicle, and the load can thus be transported from place to place. j

It is evident that means may be employed for moving the feet other than those described above. It is, to a certain extent, not

essential that the feet be movable through the operation of the lifting means, although this is my preferred arrangement. One manner in which the foot may be movable through the operation of the lifting means is shown in Figure 6, wherein a bell crank lever 39 is pivoted at 38 upon the member 21. 'ihe foot 3 which is supported in the member 21 to slide in or out, has lever-engaging pins 37 lying between forked ends of the `lower arm of the bell crank lever 39. The opposite end of this lever is connected to the lower end of/a cable 53. W'hen tension is placed upon the cable 53, the first action will be to move the bell crank lever 39 upon its pivot and by the engagement between its lower end and the pins 37, the foot 3 is inwardly projected as in the former case. Any other suitable means of projecting' the foot 3 may be employed.

e I have not heretofore spoken of means for centering the load-carrymg frames or for locking them against swinging after the load has been lifted.- l/Vith the construction si, far described it is evident that the funit comprising the yoke 1 and the two legs 2 is free to swing upon the supporting shaft 10 from side to side, or transversely of the main frame 9,' and in this manner to'adjust itself to the position of the pile P. When two or more such units are employed, as in the present case, each can adjust itself independently of the others. However, it is desirable, and in most cases essential, that the load-carrying frames shall not be permitted to swing after the load has been lifted from the ground.

' locking the frame against swinging and for centering it, comprise rollers 4 which. are povlegs 2 and which may be swung mward with- ,40 pivoted at/W41 upon the ends of the yoke 1..

in the path of this leg, but not outward. They are shown as supported upon a lever This lever is provided with astop 42 which is cngageable with a stop 94 upon the main frame to limit the outward swinging of the lever 40 and roller 4.k Preferably the upper end of the leg 2' is provided with a coned cap 28 which 1s engageable with the roller 4.

So long as the legs 2 remain at their lowermost limits the rollers 4 and stops 42 and 94 have no effect thereon during their usual rather `limited swaying movement, and they take the position shown in Figure 2. As the leg 2 begins to rise in the guidesv 12, its coned upper end 28 contacts with the rollers 4, forcing them outward from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3. Une or both of the stops 42 will thereupon engage its flange 94. If only one stop has so engaged its Harige, the whole yoke and parts supported therefrom will be forced into a central position so that the opposite stop 42 will contact with its flange 94, thus centering the entire load-carrying frame. As the raising of the legs 2 continues, the rollers 4 lie closely against their outer sides and due to the contact of the stop 42 and flange 94 at each side, rocking of the yoke 1 and its attached parts is prevented.

By the above construction I have provided a vehicle for the Vpurposes described which) will adjust itself freely to a rload; which has no projecting parts to interfere with proper positioning of the load over the vehicle; which can automatically engage a load and then lift it; in which all frame members are rigid relative to each other once the lifting of the load has commenced, and in which the load-carrying frame is hun and actuated from a common shaft.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. A vehicle comprising a mobile main frame and a rigid load-carrying frame includin a member extending downwardly. at each side of the-main frame, said load-carrying frame being pivotally. supported from the main frame upon a longitudinal axis.

2. A vehicle as in claim 1 iny which both frames are adapted to straddle the load.

3. A vehicle comprising a mobile main frame and a load-carrying frame supported from the main frame to swing upon a longitudinal axis, said load-carrying frame having legs provided with load-engaging and supporting members, said legs being relaltliyly ixedly spaced transversely of the ve- 4. A vehicle comprising a mobile main frame and a load-carrying frame including a transversely-extending yoke supported from the main frame to swing upon a lon-v b gitudinal axis, and a load-supporting leg guided for vertical movement at each end of said yoke.

5. A vehicle as in claim 3, wherein the load engaging and supporting members are movable relative to their supporting legs to engage and disengage the load.

6. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the load-carryin frame includes a plurality of independenty ivoted' inverted U-shaped members extencing transversely of the ve- `hicle.

7. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the load-carrying frame includes transversely extending inverted U-shaped members having load-engaging and supporting means at their lower extremities.

8. The combination with a vehicle as in claim 1, of means for locking the load-carrying frame against swinging by its engagemert with a load.

9. 1n combination, a mobile fra-me, a loadcarrying frame having members movable into and from load-supporting position, said frame being supported from and swingable transversely of the mobile frame, and means for looking the frame against swinging operable through the movement of said members towards load-supporting position.

10. In combination, a mobile body, a loadcarrying frame supported thereon and including a yoke transversely swingable, loadsupporting members guided and vertically movable in said yoke into and from loadsupporting position, and means operable to lock the yoke and the load-supporting members carried thereby against swinging while in load-supportin position.

11. In combination, a mobile body, a loadcarrying frame supported thereon and including a plurality of yokes independently transversely swingable, and load-supporting members guided in said yokes for vertical movement into and from load-supporting position, means for simultaneously moving said load-supporting members, and means operable to lock each yoke and the load-supporting members carried thereby against lswinging while in load-supporting position.

12. In combination, a mobile body, a rigid load-carrying frame pivoted thereon to swing transversely of the body, and load supporters carried by*- said rigid frame and movableinto and from load-supporting position.

t 13. In a carrier of the character described, a load-supporting unit comprising a yoke pivotally supported intermediate its ends, a leg guided in each end of said yoke for vertical movement, and a load supporter connected to move with each leg.

14. ln a carrier of the character described, a load-supporting unit comprising a yoke pivotally supported intermediate its ends, a

liao

4o and means engageable by said legs as the rigid leg uided in each end of said yoke.

` swinging .of the loa such positlon.

for vertlca movement, and a foot carried by each leg and adapted'to engage beneath a oad.

15. In a carrier ofthe character described, .the combination with a. load-supporting unit comprising a yoke pivotally supportedinteunediateits ends, a rigid leg guided in each endof said yoke for vertical movement, and a foot carried by each leg, of means for moving said feet inwardly to engage beneath a load, and then lifting said feet.

. 1G. In combination, a plurality of longitudinally-spaced -yokes swingable each in a transverse plane, a leg carrying a load supporter and vertically movable in the ends of each of said yokes into and Yfrom loadsupporting position, and means adapted to be put into operation as said legs move to-L wards load-supportin position to prevent supporters while 1n 17. In combination, a plurality of longitudinally-spaced yokes swingable each 1n a transverse plane, a leg carrying a load supporter and verticall movable in the ends of .each of said yokes lnto and from load-supporting position, and means engageable by said legs as they move towards load-sup portino' position to preventA swinging of the yokesflegs, and load supporters while in such position. 1

18. In a carrier of the character described, in combination, a plurality` ot' longitudinally-spaced yokes supported intermediate their ends and swingable each in a'transverse plane, a plurality of load supporters suspended from said yokes and vertically movable, a leg movable vertically in each end of said yokes with said load supporters,

load supporters move upward to prevent swinging of the yokes and supporters while upralsed.

19. In a carrier of the character described, in combination` a plurality of longitudinally-spaced yokes supported intermediate their ends and swingable each in a transverse plane, a plurality of load supporters suspended from said yokes and vertically mov.

' able, a leg movable vertically in each end of said yokes with said load supporters, and a roller mounted in the path of movement of each leg and engageable thereby as the load supporters move upward, said rollers being non-yieldable in a direction to permit swinging of the yokes and legs when engaged therewith.

20. In a carrier of the character described, inl combination, a pluralityl of longitudinally-spaced yokes supported intermediate their ends and swingable each in a trans verse plane, a plurality of load supporters suspended from said yokesand vertically movable, a leg movable vertically in each end of Asaigityokes with said load suppofFters, and

a roller mounted in the .e ath of movement of each leg and engagea le with the outer` side thereof as the load supporters nfove upward, a lever carrying eachof said'rollers to permit inward movement thereof, and stops for preventing swinginfr of the load supporters and yokes when the rollers are engaged by said legs.

21. In combination, a mobile frame, a loadicarrying frame includiiig a plurality of in# engageable between said legs and the mobile frame for automatically positioning the yokel in horizontal position and the legs inverti cal position as the legs move into load-supportin position. f

22. a leg, a load-engaging and supporting foot slidably supported in said leg and' project' ible therefrom in a horizontal plane to engage beneath a load, means norn'xally ren a carrier of the character described,

taining said foot retracted'within the leg, l

and means for projecting said foot.

In a carrier of the character described,

a le a load-engaging and supporting foot laterally slidable in a horizontal plane at the lower end of said leg, and means for pro-J jecting said foot. 1

24. In a. carrier of the character described, a leg, a normally retracted foot guided by said leg for vertical movement and laterally slidable therein to project into load-engaging and supporting-position,'and means for successively projecting said' foot and' then raising it.

25. In a, carrier of the character described, i

a leg, a. normally retracted foot guided by said leg for vertical movement andlaterally slidable therein to project into load-engaging and supporting position, and load-lifting means operable when actuated to project and then to raise said foot.

26. In a carrier of the character described, a leg, a normally retracted foot guided by said leg for vertical movement and projectible into load-engaging and supportingposition, and a load lifting member secured to said foot and operable when actuated to project the foot in a horizontal plane and subsequently to raise it.

27. In combination, in a carrier of the character described a lyoke pivoted at its center to swing, a leg guided in each end thereof for vertical movement, a normally outwardly retracted foot supported at the lower end of each leg, and load-lifting means operable to project each foot inwardly and to raise it and the leg supporting it.

28. In a carrier of the character described,

a vertically-movable le ,'a sheave journaled in the lower end thereo a foot, said foot an'd leg having cooperating guides permitting lateral Sliding of the foot inthe leg,'springs normally retaining the lfoot retracted within- .the inner limit of the leg, means for inwardly projecting the foot, and a flexible lifting memberpassing downwardly and under said sheave, and secured to the outer end of said 29. In a carrier of the character described, a mobile frame, asingle central longitudinally extending shaft journaled therein, a 1oad-carrying frame supported solely from said shaft, and load-supporting and lifting mechanism supported from ,said load-carry# ing frame and operable by rotation of said shaft. .v

30. In a carrier of the character described, a mobile frame, alongitudinallyextending shaft journaled therein, a load-carrying frame pivotally supported from said shaft i to swing transversely of themobile. fra-me,

' and load-supporting-and lifting mechanism.

a mobile frame, a longitudinally-extending' carried by the load-carrying frameand operable by rotationof said shaft. 5

31. In a carrier of the character described, a mobile -frame, a llongitudinelly-extending shaft journaled therein, a plurality of independent. yokes pivotally'4 supported and axially spaced upon said shaft, whereby they may swing each in aA transverse plane,

and load-supporting and lifting mechanisms carried by each of said yokes, and operable by rotation of said shaft.

32.V In a carrier ofthe character described,

operate said means by rotation ofthe shaft.'

33. In a carrier of the characterdescribed, a mobile frame, a longitudinally-extending shaft journaled therein, a transversely-ex tending yoke pivotally-supported onl said shaft, legs, depending from the ends of said yoke, load-supporting andl lifting means sand'| carried by the lower endof said legs, a

sheave vupon the shaft,y sheaves \at each end of the yoke, anda cable passing about the sheave on the shaft and over the other' sheaves to operate the load-supporting and lifting means.

- 34. A vehicle comprisina mobile main frame, a load-carryingV rame supported l from the main frame to swing upon a longitudinal axis, means for lifting a load, and means operable by the operation of raising the load for locking the load-carrying frame against swinging.

35. A vehicle comprlsing a mobll'e mam frame and a` rigid, symmetrical, inverted U-shaped load-carrying frame supported from the main frame to swin'guon a longitudinal axis centrally positione above the load.

Signed at Seattle, Kin County, Washington, this 25th day of ovember, 1921.

HORACE F. WEATHERBY. 

